psalm-42:1-6,-psalm-43:1-niv

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:6

The hill Mizar. Association is a potent factor in life. Here it may have worked by contrast. "Mizar," as a little hill, may have called to the mind of David, in exile, the mountains of Judah, and the far-off land of his fathers and his God. We may take "Mizar" to illustrate— I. THE CHANGES OF LIFE . As with David, so with us, changes come. We may have rest or be compelled to wander. We may have the joys of home or we may be doomed to solitude and to exile. Wherever we are, let... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:1

As the hart panteth after the water-brooks - Margin, brayeth. The word rendered hart - איל 'ayâl - means commonly a stag, hart, male deer: Deuteronomy 12:15; Deuteronomy 14:5; Isaiah 35:6. The word is masculine, but in this place is joined with a feminine verb, as words of the common gender may be, and thus denotes a hind, or female deer. The word rendered in the text “panteth,” and in the margin “brayeth” - ערג ‛ârag - occurs only in this place and in Joel 1:20, where it is applied to the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:2

My soul thirsteth for God - That is, as the hind thirsts for the running stream.For the living God - God, not merely as God, without anything more definitely specified, but God considered as living, as himself possessing life, and as having the power of imparting that life to the soul.When shall I come and appear before God? - That is, as I have been accustomed to do in the sanctuary. When shall I be restored to the privilege of again uniting with his people in public prayer and praise? The... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:3

My tears have been my meat - The word rendered tears in this place is in the singular number, and means literally weeping. Compare Psalms 39:12. The word meat here means literally bread, and is used in the general signification of food, as the word meat is always used in the English version of the Bible. The English word meat, which originally signified food, has been changed gradually in its signification, until it now denotes in common usage animal food, or flesh. The idea here is, that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:4

When I remember these things - These sorrows; this banishment from the house of God; these reproaches of my enemies. The verb used here is in the future tense, and would be appropriately rendered “I will remember these things, and I will pour out my soul within me.” That is, it is not a mere recollection of the past, but it indicates a state or purpose of mind - a solemn resolution to bear these things ever in remembrance, and to allow them to produce a proper impression on his mind and heart... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:5

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? - Margin, bowed down. The Hebrew word means to bow down, to incline oneself; then, usually, to prostrate oneself as in public worship; and then, to sink down under the weight of sorrow; to be depressed and sad. The Septuagint renders it, “Why art thou grieved?” - περίλυπος perilupos. So the Vulgate. This is an earnest remonstrance addressed by himself to his own soul, as if there were really no occasion for this excessive depression; as if he cherished his... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:6

O my God, my soul is cast down within me - This is the utterance of a soul in anguish, notwithstanding the purpose not to be cast down, and the conviction that hope ought to be cherished. The psalmist cannot but say that, despite all this, he is sad. His troubles come rushing over his soul; they all return at once; his heart is oppressed, and he is constrained to confess that, notwithstanding his solemn purpose not to be sad, and the conviction that he ought to be cheerful, and his wish to be... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 42:1-2

Psalms 42:1-2. As the hart panteth תערג , tagnarog, brayeth: “The word is strong, and expresses that eagerness and fervency of desire, which extreme thirst may be supposed to raise in an animal almost spent in its flight from the pursuing dogs. Nothing can give us a higher idea of the psalmist’s ardent and inexpressible longing to attend the public worship of God than the burning thirst of such a hunted creature for a cooling and refreshing draught of water.” So panteth my soul after... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 42:3-4

Psalms 42:3-4. My tears have been my meat, &c. That is, I am wholly given over to grief and sorrow while I hear the continual reproaches of my enemies, saying unto me, Where is thy God? Of whom thou hast so often boasted, as of one so able and ready to help all that trust in him, and call upon him? and particularly as one engaged to thee by many great and special promises? He is departed from thee, and nowhere to be found of thee. He is either unable or unwilling to help thee, or... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 42:5

Psalms 42:5. Why art thou cast down, O my soul With excessive sorrow and despair. Why art thou disquieted within me? Is there any cause that anxiety of mind should put thee into a state of such perturbation, as if all hopes of this felicity were lost for ever? Hope thou in God Trust in him, and patiently wait upon him. For I shall yet praise him The time will come when I shall go again to his house, and praise him for his favour toward me. For the help of his countenance Hebrew, ... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 42:1-2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 42:3-4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 42:5

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